Internet use by patients with psychiatric disorders in search for general and medical informations

Internet is commonly used by the general population, notably for health information-seeking. There has been little research into its use by patients treated for a psychiatric disorder.

To evaluate the use of internet by patients with psychiatric disorders in searching for general and medical information.

In 2007, 319 patients followed in a university hospital psychiatric out-patient clinic, completed a 28-items self-administered questionnaire.

Two hundred patients surveyed were internet users. Most of them (68.5%) used internet in order to find health-related information. Only a small part of the patients knew and used criteria reflecting the quality of contents of the websites consulted. Knowledge of English and private Internet access were the factors significantly associated with the search of information on health on Internet.

Internet is currently used by patients treated for psychiatric disorders, especially for medical seeking information.